Sunshade with radio device

ABSTRACT

A sunshade includes a post, a radio device mounted in a casing on the post. The casing receives a reel for controlling opening and closing of the sunshade. No additional space is required for the radio device and operation of the sunshade is not adversely affected.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/663,047 filed Sep. 15, 2003, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sunshade with a radio device.

2. Description of the Related Art

A sunshade or umbrella shields people from sunlight and is thus widely used in outdoor cafes and rest areas as well as on beaches. U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,657 discloses a sunshade with an illuminating device that has a solar energy receiver for receiving solar energy and providing electricity to the bulbs attached to the sunshade. U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,062 discloses an umbrella that comprises a container connected to the runner, and a radio is housed in the container. However, the container is exposed and thus adversely affects the appearance of the umbrella. Further, the container occupies a space and causes inconvenience to opening/closing of the umbrella.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a radio in a casing for a reel on a post of a sunshade for increasing utility of the sunshade without adversely affecting the appearance and opening/closing of the sunshade.

A sunshade in accordance with the present invention comprises a post, a casing mounted on the post, the casing receiving a reel for controlling opening and closing of the sunshade, and a radio device mounted in the casing, the radio device being adapted to receive signals from a broadcaster.

Preferably, the sunshade further comprises means for supplying power to the radio device.

The means for supplying power to the radio device may be a solar energy receiver.

Alternatively, the means for supplying power to the radio device comprises a tubular member releasably connected to a lower end of the post, a battery-receiving member releasably received in the tubular member, and a battery unit received in the battery-receiving member.

Preferably, the casing comprises two casing halves securely connected together and mounted around the post.

Preferably, the casing comprises a circuit board and a loud speaker mounted therein. The loud speaker is electrically connected to the circuit board. The casing further comprises a control panel section and a control plate mounted to the control panel section. A plurality of control elements are mounted on the control panel and extend beyond the control panel section for manual operation.

Preferably, the control panel section is a recessed section of the casing. The sunshade further comprises a lid mounted to the casing and slidable between a first position in which the control panel section is hidden by the lid and a second position in which the control panel section is exposed for manual operation.

Preferably, the post comprises a slot through which the control panel extends.

Preferably, each casing half comprises a groove in an upper end thereof, and a washer is mounted in the grooves of the casing halves for preventing water from entering the casing.

Preferably, the circuit board further comprises a wire electrically connected to the post, thereby forming an antenna for receiving the signals from the broadcaster.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sunshade with a radio device in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the sunshade and the radio device in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along plane 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a modified embodiment of a power device of the sunshade in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the modified embodiment of the power device in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along plane 6-6 in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a radio device 2 in accordance with the present invention is attached to a sunshade 1 that generally comprises a post 13, a rib-mounting member 11 on top of the post 13, a plurality of ribs 14 each having an end pivotally connected to the rib-mounting member 11, a runner 12 slidably mounted to the post 13, a plurality of stretchers 15 each having a first end pivotally connected to the runner 12 and a second end pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of an associated one of the ribs 14.

Still referring to FIG. 1 and further to FIGS. 2 through 4, the radio device 2 in accordance with the present invention is mounted in a casing 20 on the sunshade 1. The radio device 2 receives signals from a broadcaster (not shown) and a power device 3 is mounted on the sunshade for supplying power to the radio device 2. The power device 3 in this embodiment is a solar energy receiver for converting solar energy into electricity. Preferably, the power device 3 comprises at least one solar cell for storing electricity.

The casing 20 receives a reel 25 for controlling opening and closing of the sunshade. The reel 25 includes a handle 24 and a cable (not shown) for controlling opening/closing of the sunshade, which is conventional. By mounting the radio device 2 in the casing 20 for receiving a reel 25 which is currently available, operation of the sunshade is not adversely affected and additional space is not required for the radio device 2.

In this example, the casing 20 includes two casing halves 21 that are coupled with each other and securely mounted around the post 13. Each casing half 21 includes a groove 212 (preferably semi-circular) in an upper end 211 thereof, with a washer 23 (FIG. 3) being received in the grooves 212 to provide a sealing effect. Thus, water is prevented from entering the radio module 2 via an outer periphery of the post 13.

The casing 20 further includes a recessed control panel section 213. A lid 22 is mounted to the casing 20 and slidable between a closed position in which the recessed control panel section 213 is hidden by the lid 22 and an open position in which the recessed control panel section 213 is exposed for manual operation. A circuit board 214 and a loud speaker 215 are mounted in one of the casing halves 21. Further, this casing half 21 includes two pegs 216 each having a screw hole (not labeled). A control plate 217 is secured to the pegs 216 by fasteners (not labeled) and includes a plurality of control elements such as buttons and/or knobs 218 that extend beyond the recessed control panel section 213 via holes 210 in the recessed control panel section 213. The post 13 includes a slot 131 through which the control plate 217 extends, best shown in FIG. 3. The loud speaker 215 and the control plate 217 are electrically connected by wires 219 to the circuit board 214. The circuit board 214 is electrically connected by wires 219 to the post 13 so that the post 13 may act as an antenna for receiving signals from a broadcaster. The buttons and/or knobs 218 allow the user to control on/off, tuning in, volume adjustment, etc. of the radio device 2.

FIGS. 4 through 6 illustrate a modified embodiment of the power device (now designated by 4) for supplying electricity to the radio device 2. In this embodiment, the post 13 includes a reduced lower end 132 on which a spring-biased positioning button 133 is mounted. The power module 4 includes a tubular member 42 having a transverse positioning hole 421, a battery-receiving member 41 mounted in the tubular member 42, and a connecting member 43. The connecting member 43 includes a conductive member 431 provided in a central portion thereof for electrical connection with the circuit board 214 by wires 219. An annular conductive member 432 is provided on the connecting member 43 and spaced from the conductive member 431. The annular conductive member 43 is also electrically connected to the circuit board 214 by wires 219. The spring-biased positioning button 133 extends through the transverse positioning hole 421 of the tubular member 42, which will be described later. The tubular member 42 has two protrusions 422 on an inner periphery of a lower end thereof. The protrusions 422 are formed by punching the tubular member 42.

The battery-receiving member 41 includes a compartment 410 for receiving a battery unit (several cells 412 in this example) having a positive pole and a negative pole that are respectively and electrically connected by wires 219 to two conductive pins 411, which, in turn, are respectively in contact with the conductive member 431 and the annular conductive member 432. Thus, the power module 4 provides power to the radio module 2. A lower end of the battery-receiving member 41 rests on the protrusions 422 of the tubular member 42. When replacement of the battery unit 412 is required, the spring-biased positioning button 133 is pressed and disengaged from the transverse positioning hole 421 of the tubular member 42, allowing the tubular member 42 to be disengaged from the post 13. Next, the battery-receiving member 41 is removed for subsequent replacement of the battery unit 412.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A sunshade comprising: a post; a casing mounted on the post, the casing receiving a reel for controlling opening and closing of the sunshade; and a radio device mounted in the casing, the radio device being adapted to receive signals from a broadcaster.
 2. The sunshade as claimed in claim 1, with the sunshade further comprising means for supplying power to the radio device.
 3. The sunshade as claimed in claim 2, with said means for supplying power to the radio device being a solar energy receiver.
 4. The sunshade as claimed in claim 2, with said means for supplying power to the radio device comprising a tubular member releasably connected to a lower end of the post, a battery-receiving member releasably received in the tubular member, and a battery unit received in the battery-receiving member.
 5. The sunshade as claimed in claim 1, with the casing comprising two casing halves securely connected together and mounted around the post.
 6. The sunshade as claimed in claim 5, with the casing comprising a circuit board and a loud speaker mounted therein, the loud speaker being electrically connected to the circuit board, the casing further comprising a control panel section and a control plate mounted to the control panel section, a plurality of control elements being mounted on the control panel and extending beyond the control panel section for manual operation.
 7. The sunshade as claimed in claim 6, with the control panel section being a recessed section of the casing, with the sunshade further comprising a lid mounted to the casing and slidable between a first position in which the control panel section is hidden by the lid and a second position in which the control panel section is exposed for manual operation.
 8. The sunshade as claimed in claim 7, with the post comprising a slot through which the control panel extends.
 9. The sunshade as claimed in claim 5, with each said casing half comprising a groove in an upper end thereof, and with a washer being mounted in the grooves of the casing halves for preventing water from entering the casing.
 10. The sunshade as claimed in claim 6, with the circuit board further comprising a wire electrically connected to the post, thereby forming an antenna for receiving the signals from the broadcaster. 